Certificate Program to Train Professionals in Human Resource Analytics, Statistical Analysis, Research

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Registration is open for a certificate program in human resource analytics beginning in April and offered through the collaboration of the University of Arkansas Global Campus and the Center for Statistical Research and Consulting in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

The eight sessions will be offered from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Mondays from April 16 through June 11 in face-to-face classes at the Global Campus facility in Rogers, 3300 Market St., or online through simultaneous video. The program will be packed with statistical analysis, research and practical application information designed to empower human resource professionals as strategic business partners within their organizations.

“Using distance technology, we will be able to reach a wide audience of human resource professionals with this career and organizational building content,” said Judith Tavano, professional development program coordinator for the Global Campus.

The cost is $890, and online registration is available at http://globalcampus.uark.edu/register. Participants who successfully complete the course and achieve a passing grade on the final project can earn 18 hours of business management and strategy recertification credit approved by the Human Resource Certification Institute. They also will be awarded a certificate of completion and proficiency from the Global Campus.

Joon Jin Song, director of the Center for Statistical Research and Consulting, will teach “The Fundamentals of HR Analytics: Learning the Tools to Execute Your Strategy.” Song is an associate professor of statistics in the department of mathematical sciences in the Fulbright College.

“This certificate program highlights the importance of research and analytic practices in order to achieve organizational strategic objectives,” Song said. “In order for human resource professionals to support organizational strategy, they need systematic and intelligent analytical tools. This program is designed to provide the human resource community with these tools.”

Song earned his bachelor’s degree in 1997 from Yeungnam University, Korea, and his master’s degree in 1999 from Kyungpook National University, Korea. He received a doctorate in statistics from Texas A&M University in 2004. From 2004 to 2005, he was a visiting assistant professor in the department of mathematics and statistics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Song joined the University of Arkansas in 2005. 

Tramaine Ingram, a graduate student in the department of mathematical sciences’ statistics program, will also teach in the program. She has seven years of professional human resources experience and is a certified labor relations specialist.

“The conventional view of human resources is rapidly changing,” Ingram said.  “Organizations are calling for their practitioners to become business partners. So many times human resources professionals lose the opportunity of becoming business partners simply because they fail at translating the mathematics behind the analytics.” 

The Center for Statistical Research and Consulting is a research, education and service unit of the University of Arkansas. One of the missions of the center is to provide statistical and quantitative support for government, industry and nonprofit organizations as community service activities. It is expected that the new certificate program will allow the center to extend the scope of its services, Song said. Visit http://math.uark.edu/4164.php for more information about the center.

For information about the analytics certificate program, contact Tavano at jtavano@uark.edu.

The Global Campus (School of Continuing Education and Academic Outreach) plays its part in the university’s land-grant mission by providing service to the state through outreach programs and dissemination of knowledge. This year marks the 150^th anniversary of the establishment of the land-grant system.

The Global Campus partners with other university units, businesses and organizations to offer innovative learning solutions for people seeking to maintain professional certification, boost their skills, or obtain undergraduate or graduate degrees online or off-campus. The school also offers media services, conference services and facilities, and technology and pedagogy support. Visit http://globalcampus.uark.edu to learn more.